The Fastenal Co. (NASDAQ: FAST), Winona, MN, reported sales for the third quarter of $1.1 billion, up 11.8 percent year-over-year. Profit was $143.1 million, up 12.7 percent. Daily sales on an organic basis increased 12.3 percent.

For the first nine months of the year, sales were $3.3 billion, up 9.6 percent over the same period the previous year. Profit increased 10.8 percent to $426.2 million.

The number of stores open in the third quarter was down 5 percent year-over-year to 2,418. Industrial vending machines were up 14.3 percent to 69,058 machines.

The increase was driven primarily by higher unit sales. The higher unit sales resulted primarily from improvement in underlying market demand and contribution from our growth drivers, notably industrial vending and onsite locations.

Fastenal also reported sales for September of $371.3 million, a 9.8 percent increase over the same period a year ago. Daily sales increased 15.3 percent to an average of $18.6 million.

During the month, sales to manufacturing customers increased 16.9 percent, while sales to nonresidential construction customers increased 4.9 percent.

Store count was 2,418 in September, compared to 2,545 a year ago. Employee headcount increased 1.9 percent year-over-year to 20,242.